"Common Sense" is all too often little more than a substitute for ignorance and prejudice. It rejects the carefully thought-out argument for instant thoughtless reactions. It is usually wrong.
UnCommon Sense tries to look at issues from a more complex and considered point of view. "Common Sense" is simplistic, UnCommon Sense is deals with the the world as far more complex than many would have us believe.

Friday, 2 November 2012

I have just translated the following press release for the T-Refugee Project in Denmark:

"Gender and sexuality are now recognized as
possible criteria for granting asylum, the Refugee Board has stated in a letter
in response to a request from LGBT Denmark legal affairs spokesperson, Søren
Laursen.

The T-Refugee Project regards the Refugee
Board's letter as meaning that asylum practice has now changed with respect to,
among other things, transgender and gay asylum seekers, otherwise known as
LGBTIQ refugees (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer).

A victory in principle

The change of the Refugee Board's asylum
practice is an important victory in principle in the view of the T-Refugee
Project, and with the change, according to the group there is now no avoiding
giving asylum to transgender refugees.

Stine Larsen from the asylum campaign
group T-Refugee Project explains:

"I see it as a victory in principle, the Refugee Board now
believes that gender identity and sexuality can play a role in an asylum case.
But we are not there yet. We are cautiously optimistic, but waiting. We still
need to see some concrete decisions that are positive for transgender asylum
seekers. If the letter from the Refugee Board is to be more than fine words,
transgender asylum seekers from countries that do not protect them from
violence and killings should of course be granted asylum."

Real and personal danger

According to the T-Refugee Project this
statement of intent is a clear improvement in relation to their overall
struggle for rights. In practice, the change means that amongst others,
transgender asylum seekers will be recognized as belonging to a particular
social group. This enables them to obtain asylum with convention status, if
they can convince the Refugee Board that they are in real and personal danger
because of their gender identity.

Phoebus Papanikolaou, who, like Stine
Larsen is active in the T-Refugee Project, said:

"It is essential that there is action
behind the fine words and asylum is granted in individual cases. Refugee Convention
status is not secured by the latest announcement by the Refugee Board, even
though it represents a step in the right direction, it would indeed be absurd
beyond measure if the change only ended up as embellishments on the paper it
was written on. That would be tantamount to simply presenting a positive face,
which hopefully is far below the Refugee Board’s standards "

Stine Larsen believes that it is positive
that the Refugee Board now suggests a change in relation to gender identity and
sexuality:

"At last, something has happened.
LGBT Denmark has for many years been trying to get the Refugee Board to change its
practice, and this change has been one of our main demands since we started the
T-Refugee Project in September. Of course, gender identity and sexuality should
be taken into account when deciding who may be considered as part of a
particular social group, allowing for asylum status to be granted.”

A victory for Danish activism

The announcement from the Refugee Board,
besides being a victory for transgender refugees also represents a victory for
activism in Denmark.

"I do not think Refugee Board would
have changed its practice, if Søren Laursen, renowned researchers and other
groups and individuals had not argued for asylum for transgender and homosexual
people who risk persecution in their countries of origin. I think the change is
due to the hard work of many types of lead actors have put in the work for actual
transgender asylum seekers."

An international victory

The new tone of the Refugee Board is also
a victory for cooperation between activists across national borders. And it is
a victory for international human rights bodies and groups like ILGA Europe,
UNHCR and Amnesty International.

T-Refugee Project believes that the other European countries
that are lagging behind UN recommendations on gender and sexuality (ie the UK
and Ireland) should follow Denmark and change course, specifically to include gender
identity or sexuality minorities.

Words must be followed up with action

"Now we hope that this is a signal
that the refugees fleeing because of their gender identity or sexual
orientation will actually be granted asylum. The T-Refugee Project will keep a
close eye on the Refugee Board’s decisions and speak up if the new policy is
not respected. If it is just empty words, it will do nothing for the refugees
who need it to be followed up with action," concludes Stine Larsen.